Washing machine



Feb. 27, 19340 1'. w. BEHAN WASHING MACHINE Filed May 6'. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOR INVENTOR THoMAs W BEHAN NEY I Feb, 27, 1934. 1'. w. BEHAN WASHING MACHINE Filed May 6, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fi/ams W. BEHAN ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 27, 1934 PATENT OFFICE WASHING MACHINE Thomas W. Behan, Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to Nineteen Hundred Corporation, Binghamton, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 6, 1930. Serial No. 450,105

5 Claims.

This invention relates principally to an attachment to be used in connection with washing ma-' chines of the types now available on the market to adapt the latter for the eficient handling of smaller quantities of clothes than they were originally designed to handle or to convert such machines into ones capable of performing other functions. For example, by the use of my attachment a regular washing machine may be em-- ployed for the dry-cleaning of articles, particularly small articles, which could not suitably be handled in the original machine, or for the churning of butter or various kindred purposes. The improvement comprises primarily the substitution of an inner bowl or tub for the circula'tor or agitator construction commonly employed within the tubs or containers of washing machines such as are now available. This substitution is designed to adapt the machines for the purposes mentioned above or for a variety of other uses which will readily be suggested.

It has been an object of the invention to provide a simple and effective means for converting a relatively large washing machine in the way indicated into one adapted to efficiently handle smaller quantities of clothes, or the like, or to carry out the other functions specified. A feature of the invention is, the ease with which the attachment contemplated may be substitued for the original agitating devices to convert the machine from one type into the other and vice versa. For this purpose the inner bowl or tub is detachably mounted within the regular tub so that it may be removed by merely lifting it out. Another feature of the invention is the provision of detachable agitating means within the inner bewl to adapt the latter for various uses or for the handling of varying quantities of clothes, or the like.

Other objects and advantages will be made apparent from the detailed description which will now be given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an illustrative machine to which the present invention may be applied. The inner bowl forming part of the invention isshown in dotted outline within the main tub of the machine.

Figure 2 is a view of the inner bowl in elevation, largely in section, and with parts broken away.

Figure 3 is a plan viewof the bowl, and

Figure 4 is an end view of certain vanes mounted in thebowl. w

Referring now to Figure 1, a suitable form of washing machine adapted for the application of the present invention is disclosed. It comprises a supporting stand 10 on which is mounted a main tub 11 which may be of any suitable form but is preferably provided with a cylindrical body and either a conical or spherical bottom. Within the tub or container there may be provided any suitable form of agitating or circulating means. This may, for example, be in the form of an inverted conical member 12 having secured thereto a single vane 13 of suitable form. This agitator or circulator may be mounted at the bottom of the main tub on the upper end of a shaft 14 extending through the bottom. Any suitable means maybe provided for connecting the circulator with the shaft. Preferably, this will be in the form of a splined connection which will impart the rotative movements of the shaft to the circulator but at the same time will permit the ready detachment of the circulator by merely lifting it vertically from the end of the shaft.

, Any suitable means may be provided. for imparting an oscillatory rotary movement to the shaft 14 so as to bring about the desired washing action. This may comprise a pinion 15 secured to the lower end of the shaft and adapted to co-operate with a rack portion 16 of a con-- necting rod or link 17, which may be reciprocated in some convenient manner; for example the opposite end of the connecting link may be attached to a crank arm 18 secured to a shaft which is driven at a suitable rate of speed, through any appropriate form of transmission mechanism, by means of a motor 19. It will be apparent that as the motor operates, the crank arm 18 will tend to reciprocate the connecting link 17 and through the rack and pinion connection 16 and 15 will oscillate the shaft 14 and the circulating devices connected thereto. As preferred, the connection between the rack 16 and pinion 15 may either be made permanent or the rack may be held against the pinion by means of a spring 20 so that by any suitable means the rack may be disengaged from the pinion whenever desired to permit disconnection of the circulator from the driving motor.

The foregoing is a brief description of an illustrative form of washing machine to which the present improvements may be applied. Now, when it is desired to convert the machine into one more suited to the eflicient handling of smaller quantities of clothes, or for the other purposes mentioned, the circulator 12, with its vane 13, is removed from the upper end of the shaft'14. In its place there may then be inserted an inner bowl 21 which, as will presently appear, is adapted to fit over the upper end of the shaft 14 to be walls should be provided, as indicated, to prevent the water or other fluid from being thrown out during the operation of the machine. Any suitable form of cover, not shown, may be applied to the opening 22 when the machine is in operation.

- To provide an appropriate means of connecting the inner bowl to the upper end of. the shaft 14,

a hollow shaft or cap 23 is preferably fitted into the bottom of the bowl. This cap may be provided with a flange 24 which should be secured to the bottom of the bowl in any suitable way, as by means of the rivets shown. Within the cap or hollow shaft, and either integral therewith or otherwise secured thereto, is a bushing or sleeve 25 which is splined so as to co-operate properly with the upper splined end of the shaft 14.

At the bottom of the bowl there is preferably provided a single radial vane 26, which, as shown, may be struck up from the bottom of the bowl and is thus integral therewith, although, if desired, it may be formed as a separate piece and merely secured in any suitable way to the bowl. The vane may be inclined upwardly from a point near the center of the bowl toward the edge of the latter, as indicated. Its upper surface is preferably rounded and smooth and its sides should present smooth, flat or well rounded surfaces free from shoulders or projections which would be apt to catch in clothes being washed or dry-cleaned. Forming the vane as an integral part of the bowl itself facilitates the elimination of all sharp edges. If desired, a plurality of such vanes may be provided or the vane or vanes may be made to assume some other form than that indicated.

When the machine is to be used for the washing of only very small quantities of clothes or forthe dry-cleaning of small articles, the vane 26 will provide all of the circulation and agitation required. However, where somewhat larger quantities of clothes or larger articles are to be handled, approximating the full capacity of the inner tub, it will usually be preferable to employ a somewhat larger vane 27. This may be of any suitable form but is preferably so designed as to fit over the vane 26 and be detachably connected to the inner bowl. The inner end of the vane 27 may suitably be provided with a large cylindrical opening adapted to fit over the hollow shaft or cap 23. The main longitudinal extension of the vane may then be provided with suitable side walls adapted largely to cooperate with the side walls of the vane 26 to hold I the detachable vane in relatively fixed position the cap 23 during an operation of the machine;

it may be latched or held in place by any suitable 'detent arrangement. For example, a horizontal opening or recess 28 may be'drilled into a portion of the wall of the vane 27 surrounding the opening which fits over the cap 23 so that a spring 29 and a ball 30 may be inserted. The ball 30 may then co-operate with a groove 31 formed around the circumference of the hollow shaft or cap 23. Vane 27 will preferably be in the form of a casting of suitable material to permit of this construction. An opening 32 should be provided diametrically opposite the recess 28 to enable the drilling of the latter. The exposed surface of the vane 2'7 may assume any suitable form and may to advantage consist of an enlarged, rounded upper surface extending upwardly and outwardly from the center of the tub to the edge of the latter. Suitable fingerholds 33 (Figure 4), extending throughout the major portion of the length of the vane, may be provided below the upper head of the vane to permit it to be grasped and lifted when it is desired to detach it from the bowl. The general contour of both of the vanes 26 and 27 is such that no sharp points or projections are provided which would be apt to tear the articles in the tub during a washing or dry-cleaning operation.

It will be clear from the foregoing that when the circulator 12 has been removed from the machine and the inner bowl 21 inserted over the top. of the spindle 14 until the upper end of the cap 23 engages the upper end of the shaft 14, the machine is ready for operation for any of the purposes mentioned. When the motor 19 is started, the oscillatory movement of the shaft 14 will be imparted to the inner tub and to the vane 26 carried thereby. If the vane 27 has been inserted over the vane 26, it will likewise receive the oscillatory movements of the inner tub.

While the improvement has been described in considerable detail and has been disclosed in connection with a particular type of washing machine, it is to be understood that modifications may be made to adapt it for use in connection with other types of machines or to modify its action or mode of application to the machine without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. I do not desire to limit myself other than by the scope of the claims which follow.

what I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a main container, an inner container rotatably mounted within said main container, a vane tapering toward its top secured ,to said inner container, a larger vane with a similar interior taper detachably mounted over and adapted to conceal said first mentioned vane for movement with said inner container, each of said vanes extending to the periphery of said inner container and means for imparting an oscillatory movement to said inner container.

2. An inner tub for a washing machine which comprises a substantiallycylindrical vessel having integral side and bottom walls, joined by a curved section of long radius, a vane free from abrupt shoulders secured to the bottom of said vessel, a cap extending through the bottom of the vessel and secured thereto, and a detachable vane adapted to be fitted over said cap and first mentioned vane.

3. In a washing machine having a watertight, stationary tub and an oscillatable shaft extending into said tub and terminating near the bottom thereof, an inner tub having integral side wall and bottom portions joined by a curved section of large radius, said inner tub having a cap formed in its bottom adapted to be detachably mounted on said shaft and connecting said tub for oscillation therewith, and a vane carried by said inner tub and fitting over said cap.

4. In a washing machine a main tub, a unitary inner tub within said main tub, said inner tub having a rounded portion joining the side wall and bottom, a vane detachably carried by said inner tub extending from the center to the side wall thereof and adapted to be oscillated bodily therewith, means in said tub for preventing relative turning between said tub and vane, and means extending through the bottom of the main tub and terminating within said vane for imparting an oscillatory movement to said inner tub.

5. In a washing machine a main tub, an oscillatable spindle extending into said tub through the bottom and terminating near the latter, a unitary inner tub having integral side wall and bottom portions, a cap in the bottom of said inner tub adapted to be mounted over said spindle, said cap providing a connection between said tub and spindle, a rib formed in the bottom of said inner tub and extending from a point adjacent said cap to a point at the edge of the tub above the top of the cap, and means for oscillating said spindle and inner tub.

THOMAS W. BEHAN. 

